Patagonia Levitation Hoody jacket

The first thing that strikes you about the Levitation is that when you move your arms, the body doesn’t shift at all. This makes for a jacket that feels instantly ‘right’ on the bike. The fact that it was originally designed for climbing goes some way to explain the exceptional range of movement, and attention to detail is carried through the rest of its construction. Rubberised zip-pulls, a fleece-lined collar and a zip garage are just some of its features. The slim but roomy cut, well-designed over-helmet hood and cuffs that work well with gloves and push up easily make the Levitation outstanding in terms of comfort. There’s a robust quality to the fabric, which is abrasion as well as wind and water-resistant thanks to a DWR finish, making this a real contender in a multi-activity kit line-up.

Weight 460g

Price $240

Cannondale Trail SL 29 SS

The fat aluminium tubes are a constrast to the skinny items seen elsewhere in the test, but this rigid Cannondale uses them to create one of the most old-school - and lightest - rides here.

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KONA SHRED

With a reputation for no-nonsense ruggedness and a background in the always progressive and punishing riding of Canada, Kona have been building hardcore hardtails for longer than almost anyone else. The Shred is the most expensive bike on test but it’s a proper trail tank.

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SKS Airbuster CO2 inflator

The alloy Airbuster has a large knob so you can regulate the flow of gas, a mechanical stop to prevent the cartridge being pierced in transit and a dust cap to keep the valve free of debris. While it works with Presta and Schrader valves, switching between them requires a fiddly change of the valve head. The thin rubber sleeve doesn’t provide much protection from cold spent canisters. You can’t insert much of the valve into the inflator head, so you have to be careful to avoid leaks. Price $33 w/16g cartridge

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